When It Happens Read Online Free PDF Page B

imagine he is.” I reposition my T-square. “But what if he’s not really like that? What if he’s just some guy?”
    “Is that a bad thing?”
    “It’s not what I’m looking for.”
    Mr. Slater scratches his chin. “Tell me again what happened with your dad?”
    I’m used to Mr. Slater’s non sequiturs by now. I’ve had art classes with him every year. He has this special talent for remembering the most mundane details of our lives and then showing them to us when we least expect it in this way that makes us understand our lives better.
    “I don’t really know,” I say. “I think they were too young. My mom was only sixteen when she had me. Remember?” He nods. “My dad was a senior, but his parents took him out of school, and they moved away before I was born. I don’t remember ever seeing him.”
    “Do you want to find him?”
    “No.”
    “Well, the only way to know who Dave is for sure is to get to know him.”
    “True.”
    “Mr. Slater!” erupts a screech from across the room. “My T-square broke!”
    Mr. Slater smiles. “Good luck,” he tells me.
    “Thanks.” It’s not that he said anything astounding. But his chill approach to life always helps me minimize stress.
    But two corroded sketches later, I’m back to feeling nervous. When it was all just a fantasy with Dave, I was so impatient and excited. Now that he asked me out for real, it’s like I still want it to happen but at the same time I don’t. And I have lunch soon. With Dave.
    And I have an actual date this weekend.
    With Dave.
    By the time Laila and I are walking to lunch, I’m a nervous wreck.
    “So,” I say. “Do you think Dave’s sitting with us again?”
    “That boy is completely infatuated with you,” Laila says. “Wild horses couldn’t keep him away.”
    “What?”
    “I have no idea what I just said. I think Mr. Carver permanently damaged my medulla oblongata.”
    “What?”
    “Hey,” Dave says. He’s waiting for me by the door.
    “Hey,” I go. But I can’t really make eye contact with him. Even though we’ve talked on the phone the past two nights for a really long time, talking in person is way different. There’s something about him that’s like looking at the sun. He just looks so good. It’s a miracle I don’t spontaneously combust whenever I get within thirty feet of him.
    Dave leans toward me and whispers, “Can I talk to you?”
    "Uh... sure.” I look over at Laila. "I’ll be right in.”
    “Take your time,” she says.
    Laila goes in and sits down at our usual table. Maggie’s there, saving us seats. I love how we already have a usual table.
    Dave says, “I was wondering if you want to sit with my friends today.”
    “Um . . .” I look in at Maggie and Laila.
    “’Cause last night? We were all hanging out at the mall, and Caitlin was saying how you seem cool but, like . . . she doesn’t really know you and stuff.”
    “Oh.” I’m trying to look like it’s no big deal. But everyone knows when the boy you like wants you to meet his friends, it’s a big freaking deal. Particularly if it’s Caitlin, who is normally oblivious to the fact that you exist. So of course I want to sit with him! But then I remind myself of the first rule of sisterhood: best friends before boyfriends. I can’t just bail on Laila and Maggie like that. I decide to compromise. “What about next week? I promised Maggie and Laila—”
    “No problem,” Dave says. “Are you buying?”
    I wave my lunch bag in his face.
    “That would be your lunch.” He smiles. His dirty-blond hair falls over his eyes. He flips it back in this sexy way.
    “That would be, yeah.” My mouth is all dry.
    “I’ll be right back.” He goes to get in line.
    I sit down across from Maggie.
    “Watch out, guys,” Maggie says. “It looks like octopus today.”
    “What is that stuff?” Laila examines her tray.
    “I told you,” Maggie says. “Octopus.”
    “Is it noodles?” I ask.
    “You guys aren’t listening!